Feast Of Fools
Magic Hat Brewing Company

I had a chance to sample this beer recently by chatting with a magic hat rep. The beer was poured from a corked champagne-like bottle. Poured almost black with a roughly 3/4" head.

The smell was delicious. A mix of fruit and chocolate with a noticeable raspberry aroma.

Taste was also very good. Subtle chocolate flavors present, but the raspberry seemed to be the predominant flavor. Very flavorful overall, but also pretty sweet. This would make for a great dessert beer, but would probably be a little sweet as an everyday drink. Also, it was surprising that this is 7.5% abv, as the alcohol did not seem noticeable in the taste.

Mouthfeel was the most surprising to me, as it seemed very light for a stout. I would not have classified it as a stout if I didn't know beforehand. It certainly wasn't bad, just not characteristic for the style.

Overall, I thought this was a very tasty beer and certainly wouldn't mind to have a bottle for a special occasion. I was glad I got a chance to try it, since I've never seen it on sale anywhere.

*Vintage 2001* caged cork and foil wrap still intact on the 25oz dimple bottomed bottle. Stored upright on a basement concrete floor for 20 years, last 3 months in the fridge,
*! Do Not judge your example of this beer by this review!*
When this bottle was gifted by the Magic Hat folks I thought I understood this to be a beefed up version of Heart Of Darkness with raspberries. I misunderstood. This beer is only 6% and was never meant to age. My bad... now.
Looks great, threw a 1/2 inch tan head.... but that's where the good ends.
Aroma is off - some maple notes but mostly sour reminiscent of a Rodenbach to be kind but not really. Stout scents are there but oxidized - the bottom of the cork has rotted away though there was a "phttt" upon popping.
Flavor is weak and wallpaper pasty however there are still hints of raspberry in a watery thin stout.
Body is nonexistent but the aftertaste is vaguely stout-ish with lingering black grain and berry.
I'm just glad I didn't bring this out to taste with friends as a treasure.

 

Pours dark brown with some red hues. Typical beige stout head.

The smell is roasted malt, very weak coffee, mild chocolate. There is a vague, barely detectable fruitiness. I can't say I would identify it as raspberry.

The taste is the same. There is no raspberry. It is rathe sharp and abrupt, not very well blended.

The feel is quite thin, seems a bit over-carbonated for the style.

Overall, an OK beer, but in my opinion nothing to seek out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On tap at Vermont tap house, Williston, VT. This was poured into a flared tulip. The appearance was a dark ruddy brown color with no head due to a bar pour. The smell had sweet and tart raspberries up front. Light cocoa and a decent blend of smoke comes in for the balance. The taste was sweet with a touch of tartness from the raspberries to meld with the cocoa. Nice balance. Slight smoke again. On the palate, this was rounded out to medium body with a tart to semi sharp bitter to sour feel. Overall, definitely a fruit beer on here since not enough oomph on the body. And definitely one of the better beers by this company.

 

Bomber into a snifter appears dark brown in color with a khaki head.

Aroma comes across like a tootsie roll, chocolate with light fruity aspect, earth and minerals.

Tastes fruity with a backing that seems like cola and chocolate with some meaty/mineral aftertaste.

Light in body with modest carbonation. Its alright, nothing I feel I need to have again.

While this is a stout, it has a feel more like a brown ale. The fruit smell and taste seemed underwhelming to me. That being said I enjoyed the beer for want it was.